*
banner

New Albion identity for Roberts Bakery

The Roberts Bakery Band will now be known as Witton Albion Band after joining forces with a local football club that shares positive commitment to its local community.

Witton Albion
  The band will now compete under a new name

The Roberts Bakery Band is set to become the Witton Albion Band after confirming a commitment has been made by the football club to align itself with the band's ethos of making a positive impact on its local community.

Since late 2025, the band has been rehearsing at their U Lock It Stadium, following its relocation from the Roberts Bakery premises due to a business restructuring.

The football team based in Northwich currently plays in the Northern Premier League and was formed in 1887. In recent years it has also enjoyed a rejuvenation off its pitch with a commitment to its local community thought its 'Football for Everyone Community for Life' strategy.

Incredibly generous

A band spokesperson told 4BR: "Witton Albion Football Club has been incredibly generous and is fully aligned with our commitment to making a positive impact in the local community of Northwich and its surrounding areas.

This alignment, coupled with the club's generous provision of a rehearsal space and storage for our sizeable library and instruments, has led to the decision to work more closely in future and adopt the club name."

Roberts end

The decision marks the end of a 45 year relationship between the band (formerly known as Middlewich Town Band) and the well-known family bread makers. The final performance under the name came at the recent North West Area Championships in Blackpool.

During that time the band enjoyed considerable success at different competitive levels, including winning the North West Area title in the Second Section and First Section (twice) as well as claiming a podium finish at the First Section National Finals in 2015.

We now look forward to an exciting new era and a full concert and contest schedule as the Witton Albion Band, and even more so, to our partnership with Witton Albion Football ClubBand spokesperson

Thanks

The spokesperson added: "It will take some time to fully rebrand the band and its online presence, but work on this will commence immediately. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Roberts family for 46 years of fantastic support, without which the band would not be where it is today.

We now look forward to an exciting new era and a full concert and contest schedule as the Witton Albion Band, and even more so, to our partnership with Witton Albion Football Club."

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Herbert

Brass bands on the Telegraph lines

August 31 • The Daily Telegraph's review of Prof Trevor Herbert's new book on brass bands draws a positive future outlook from critic Ivan Hewett.


Insurance

T&R Direct Insurance Services: A guide to brass band insurance

August 31 • Loads of things all bands and players need to know about protecting instruments


Wobplay

Banding classics added to Wobplay

August 31 • A great trio of classic banding releases, a new podcast episode and the chance to look back at this year's Elgar International Festival.


Camborne

Camborne Brass look to raise funds after break-in vandalism

August 31 • A Crowdfunding page has been launched to help Camborne Brass after vandals broke into their bandhall and caused extensive damage.


The Hepworth Band - Public Rehearsal ahead of the 2026 British Open

Tuesday 8 September • Ossett Town Hall, Market Place, Ossett WF5 8BE


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 13 September • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards

Thursday 17 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Duchess of Edinburgh String Orchestra

Friday 18 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Irish Guards

Thursday 1 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Crewe Brass

September 1 • Crewe Brass are looking for a FRONT ROW CORNET to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


Crewe Brass

September 1 • Crewe Brass are looking for a BBb BASS to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


Crewe Brass

September 1 • Crewe Brass are looking for PERCUSSION PLAYERS (TUNED and KIT) to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


Howard J Evans

MA (Dist), Mus.B (hons), ARCM (hons), LRAM, LTCL, PGCE
Conductor, composer, arranger, tutor and pianist


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd